When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More

Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More

Once famous throughout the league as a haven for misfits and rejects looking to resurrect their careers, the Raiders have for the last decade or more made an art from out of epically wrong personnel decisions.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

​Wait, not all of your tax dollars are wasted in San Francisco. Your local bureaucrats make it part of their job to send a letter every February to state and federal politicians restating the city's desire that the government legalize marijuana.

But with every year that passes, and each with missive sent, federal and

state bodies respond with sweeping disregard.

That was until this past

April.

On April 13, Sen. Dianne Feinstein had a staff member write what was believed to be the first-ever response, essentially

telling San Francisco city officials and local potheads to go smoke a a big fat one.

As much taxpayer money that is seemingly wasted every year, reminding politicians that San Francisco has a pro-toker stance isn't particularly egregious: A City Hall staffer simply sets a reminder for every February to send the city's annual letter to these higher-up pols.

"The most time-consuming part of the task is making sure you have the latest and greatest politicians," said the city official assigned to the task, who didn't want to be named because, well, she's merely doing her job. "This year the governor is Jerry Brown. We wouldn't want to be sending the letter to Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Besides periodic name changes, the letter remains the same. The city makes its message short and sweet -- and it will continue to do so for all eternity unless the law is overturned -- that San Francisco wants the federal and state governments to "take immediate steps to tax and regulate marijuana use, cultivation, and distribution and to authorize local communities to do the same."

Unlike other politicians, who've apparently agreed to ignore this message, Feinstein decided to have a little fun with her hometown. So she sent a letter to the city supervisors, wondering what they've been smoking. She declared that their request wouldn't come to fruition if she had any say in the matter.

An excerpt from Feinstein's letter:

"I received your letter and want to thank you for informing me of the San Francisco

Board of Supervisors' passage of an ordinance to deprioritize marijuana offenses by

adults and request that the federal and California state governments do the same. I

appreciate hearing the views of the Board on this issue.

I do not support the legalization of any illegal narcotics, including marijuana. As

you may be aware, I opposed California Proposition 19, which would have allowed

adults to possess and cultivate marijuana for personal use. My convictions on this matter

have developed over many years of experience in criminal justice, including nine years as

a mayor who worked very closely with the law-enforcement community. I know the

tragedy that drug abuse causes in the lives of the addicted and to victims of drug-related

crimes and their families. I have also seen the devastation drugs can inflict on

communities.

As if that toke wasn't harsh enough, Feinstein ended her letter making it clear she has the means, along with the will, to nip San Francisco's legalization desires in the bud.

"If I may be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact my staff on the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, ofwhich I am Chairman," she wrote.

Like us on Facebook

Slideshows

Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"